Ride 28 - Covington and Cleaning the Bike for the first Time!

OK _ Back to Covington for the 42 Mile group ride... Had a blast again - though I am embarassed to say I leaned on someone for advice - and we put oil on my chain form someone's left over oil in their truck. (Ok maybe it wa not oil but some sort of lubricant) No idea what kind...transmission fluid?? Anyway - I guess I should not have let him do it. (ya think?) So anyway when we finished up the ride I had oil everywhere! Anyway I went back to someone's home form the ride - which was awesome. She helped me clean the bike for the first time. I used her chain kit - got off all the gunk on th ebike since inception (ok I purchased the bike back in end of May). Wow - was it durty. We used Simply green - and sprayed and claned the whole bike. Took the wheels off for the first time... and then really cleaned.

So my bike is stuning now! We added the proper oil for the chain that my girlfriend has - who knows bikes! So I was in good hands. Then we wiped the oil off of the chain after letting it sit while I drove home.

Anyway - I am back in business...clean chain, oiled and raring to go... Ok tomorrow I am off for another ride.
Oh today -the group seemed a tad slow - but I know we are all gaining strength and will improve as we go! (42.54 miles, 3:14:42 secs....13 mph avg)

OH - I also fell as I did not have my foot clipped in all the way as I took off. (Stupid me!) I had put my arm out as I was following (which you should not do!) so the fall hurt - but I am ok...I think my arm my be a bit sore - but I am fine... The guy in front of me heard me - says are you ok - I think I grunted..and he kept going! Men! Anyway I spoke to him later and told him next time when someone falls - stop. Maybe he was just concerned with keeping up and had a lax in judgement... I hope he has learned for next time...

Anyway - I am woman hear me roar - I am a Cyclist... currently an Athena... and I rock! And I can fall bounce back on and keep going... Ok over and out - Hope y'all had some nice safe fun rides!

OK _ Back to Covington for the 42 Mile group ride... Had a blast again - though I am embarassed to say I leaned on someone for advice - and we put oil on my chain form someone's left over oil in their truck. (Ok maybe it wa not oil but some sort of lubricant) No idea what kind...transmission fluid?? Anyway - I guess I should not have let him do it. (ya think?) So anyway when we finished up the ride I had oil everywhere! Anyway I went back to someone's home form the ride - which was awesome. She helped me clean the bike for the first time. I used her chain kit - got off all the gunk on th ebike since inception (ok I purchased the bike back in end of May). Wow - was it durty. We used Simply green - and sprayed and claned the whole bike. Took the wheels off for the first time... and then really cleaned.

So my bike is stuning now! We added the proper oil for the chain that my girlfriend has - who knows bikes! So I was in good hands. Then we wiped the oil off of the chain after letting it sit while I drove home.

Anyway - I am back in business...clean chain, oiled and raring to go... Ok tomorrow I am off for another ride.
Oh today -the group seemed a tad slow - but I know we are all gaining strength and will improve as we go! (42.54 miles, 3:14:42 secs....13 mph avg)

OH - I also fell as I did not have my foot clipped in all the way as I took off. (Stupid me!) I had put my arm out as I was following (which you should not do!) so the fall hurt - but I am ok...I think my arm my be a bit sore - but I am fine... The guy in front of me heard me - says are you ok - I think I grunted..and he kept going! Men! Anyway I spoke to him later and told him next time when someone falls - stop. Maybe he was just concerned with keeping up and had a lax in judgement... I hope he has learned for next time...

Anyway - I am woman hear me roar - I am a Cyclist... currently an Athena... and I rock! And I can fall bounce back on and keep going... Ok over and out - Hope y'all had some nice safe fun rides!

The key with any chain lube, is that you apply liberally, but wipe off the excess before riding again. if your in a relatively dry place like Nevada or Arizona, then you can use a dry lube, if your in a wet place like coastal Oregon or Washington, then you need a wet lube. There are several schools of thought in regards to cleaning chains......

Some folks use techniques like removing the chain, and soaking it in degreaser, and turn chain cleaning and lubrication into an all day affair. Then you get folks like me, I wipe it off with a rag sprayed with a little degreaser to get the grunge off the outside, and then relube, with chain lube. If it looks black and grungy it gets cleaned, a chain is about $25, so if I need to replace it once or even twice a year, it's not going to break the bank.

As for falling, it's a drag, although the instinct is to put your arm out, that's a good way to break it, as arms are not designed to have your full weight applied while coming in contact with a hard surface. Best way to learn how to fall, is to take some judo or other marshal arts lessons, as one of the first thing they teach you is how to fall without getting severely injured.

Thanks Wogster!
Re Chain:
We cleaned the chain wih simple green - water and toothbrush... a few times..then put the spray lube that my friend had oniut. Then I put it on my car and drove home 30 minute. Then before I took the car into the apt I wiped off the excess with a cloth and running peadling backwards while keeping the bike mounted on the car. I got alot of the excess off.

Re Fall:
Was going to go for a great ride today (Silk Sheets 34 miles) but woke up with sore arm and neck - a little bit of my back. First time I have been sore form the bike - so it's due to the fall. It's very sad not to be out riding - but I figure maybe my body will appreciate a day off.

I was on that same ride. what a perfect day. My first ride over 25 miles, and i did it all on my hybrid commuter. some people looked at me like i was crazy, but i kept up with many of them...

Hi Loser - I did not see anyone on my ride with a commuter bike.... you sure you were with us??? I am sorry if I do not recall.... We were with the Covington Conyers Group called C4 and had lunch afterwards.....perhasp you were with the faster group ??

Missbumble we need to find a way to nominate you as poster of the year. I absolutely love your posts and am kind of sad when I don't see one for a while.

Keep up the progress, you'll be amazed at how fast you will improve. Always nice to have a group to ride with.

Ride safe,
Keith

Thanks Keith! I always think I may be annoying people with my posts! (Does not seeem to stop me....)But to be truthful I am very excited about biking and the social and weight loss aspects! What an incredible sport and the people on this forum have beeen so supportive!!

Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.

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MissB, I'm another that looks forward to your posts....

They are always positive, and I get this mental picture of you wide eyed and breathless in your excitement to pass along an accomplishment. That's something I find refreshing, believe me, and they always brighten my day. Keep it up!

. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant

Hi Loser - I did not see anyone on my ride with a commuter bike.... you sure you were with us??? I am sorry if I do not recall.... We were with the Covington Conyers Group called C4 and had lunch afterwards.....perhasp you were with the faster group ??

Haha, i suppose I was assuming you meant Covington, LA... Went back and read your posts and saw that you are in GA, not LA... I did a 42 mile group ride in Covington (LA) on sunday as well!